Coin-operated vending-machine.



No. 704,2ol. Patented July 8, |902.

P. G. mcLEAN.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application Mod Aug. 17, 1901.1

(No Model.) 2 Sheeis-.Sheet I.

lNu. 704,2ol. Patented July, |9102.

P. G. MAGLEAN.

COIN'UPEBATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application led Aug. 17, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHINEAS G. MACLEAN, OE BOONTON, NEW JERSEY.

COIN-OPERATED VENDlNC-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,201, dated July 8, 1902. Application led August 17, 1901I Serial No. 72,337. (No model.)

To all whom, it itay concern:

Be it known that I, PHINEAs G. MACLEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boonton, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Operated Vending- Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates generally to coinoperated vending-machines, and more particularly to certain improvements upon the vending -machines shown, described, and claimed in the applications of Phineas G. MacLean, iiled April 26, 1901, No. 57,528, and August 17, 1901, No. 72,336.

This machine is particularly adapted for vending chocolates and other confections, and, owing to its size and construction, is especially adapted for use upon the backs of theater and car seats.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will vend a number of sticks of chocolate or other confections at one time.

Heretofo're machines have been constructed and operated by means of a one-cent piece for the purpose of discharging a single stick of chocolate or other confections, and this machine is designed to be operated by a iivecent piece or nickel for the purpose of discharging ve pieces of chocolate or other confections.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the various parts and in their novel combinationV or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

1n the drawings forming part of this specication, Figure 1 is a view showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspeotive View showing one side of the case open and disclosing a portion of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 4 is a plan view with the top removed. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating the mode of operation, the coin having been deposited. Fig. (i is a detail vertical section illustrating the position of the plunger just prior to discharging the package. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section illustrating the manner of locking the plunger after the last package has been discharged. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view showing the front face ofthe casting-plate and plunger. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view showing the rear face of the casting-plate, plunger, and operating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the follower and guide-pin. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the push-rod and plate. Fig. 13 is a top plan or edge view of the said push-rod and plate. A

In carrying out my invention I employ a case A, having a removable side A and the slidably-removable cover A2, having a coinslot A3. The front wall of the' case has an opening A4 adjacent to the top, through which the packages are discharged, said opening being protected by means of a depending hood A5. The front Wall of the case is also provided with a shelf or rest A6, upon which the packages are caught after their discharge,and A7 designates the coin-chamber at the bottom of the case, into which the coins are dropped after operating the machine. A casting-plate Bis arranged within the main body of the case, dividing said body into a frontand rear compartment, the front face of said casting-plate having a'vertical longitudinal groove B. The casting-plateB is formed with a side ange B2, by means of which it is connected to the side of the case, and said casting-plate is also provided with a flange Ba upon the opposite side, the flange B2 extending above the casting-plate B and the ange B3 extending both above and below the casting-plate, as most clearly shown. The iange B8 forms one side of the coin-chute, the opposite side being formed by the plate C, attached to the side of the flange B3. A follower E is arranged in the front compartment, said follower being essentially in the form of an inverted- U- shaped plate, having a guide-pin Ef attached to the'rear side thereof, saidV pin working in the groove B', and has its upper end E2 projecting slightly' above theupperface of the follower-plate E. vA coil-spring F is arranged in the Ifront compartment beneath the follower E and serves to normally press the said follower upwardly, the packages G beingarranged in vertical series within the front com- ICO partment upon the follower, as most'clearly shown in Figs and 5. As before stated, this machine is intended to deliver five pieces of chocolate, and these ive pieces may be contained in asingle wrapper or they may be arranged in separate wrappers and delivered five at a time through the opening A4 in the manner hereinafter described.

H indicates a plunger which is essentially in the form of a plate Working across the top of the casting-plate B, the height of said plate being sufficient to project five packages through the opening A4. This plunger H is operated by means of a lever I, pivoted at Il at the rear of the said casting-plate, the lower end l2 working in a cut-outportion B4 at the rear side of the flange B2, said end 12 projecting into the path of the coin and being adapted to engage the same,as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. A laterally-projectin g pin I3 is carried at the upper end of the lever Lwhich pin works in a slot H2, produced in the upper end of the liange H3,said plate also having a iange H4, to which the arm His connected,said arm in turn being rigid with the rock-shaft H6,journaled between the anges B2 and B3. The plunger is also provided with a laterally-projectin g plate K, which serves as a cut-off to close the coinslot A3 when the supply of confections has become evhausted.A The plate H4 has an aperture H2 produced therein and adapted to receive the upwardly-projecting end E2 of the guide-pin E after the last package has been discharged from the follower, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7, and the forward face of the plunger has a beveled notch H9, which permits the plunger to move across the projecting end E2, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. It will thus be seen that when the last package has been delivered the plunger will be automatically locked in its forward position and the plate K will close the upper end of the coin chute, and thereby prevent any additional coins being ldropped into the machine. A push-rod L has a knob L' at its forward end and carries a plate L2 at its rear end. A shoulder L3 is formed at the juncture of the push rod L and plate L2, the coin being caught between said shoulder L2 and a laterally-projecting end I2 of the lever I, as most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 8. A laterally-projecting finger L4, carried at the rear end of the plate L2, is adapted to engage the rear side of the lower end of the lever, as shown in Fig. S. A wire spring M bears at one end against the case and at the opposite end against a lug M on the plate L2, the normal tendency of the spring being to force the pushrod and plate outwardly or forwardly, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby throwing the plunger back to the position shown in Fig. 3. The plate L2 slides against the iange B3, beneath the plate C, thereby receiving the coin asit drops through the coin-chute,andaguide plate N serves as a guide for the said plate L2, said guide-plate N being most clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In operation a coin is deposited through the slot A3 and passes down the coin-chute formed by the flange B3 and plate C and is caught between the shoulder L3, end of lever I2, and the plate L2. By pressing upon the knob L the lever I is operated, pushing the plunger H forwardly, thereby forcing or discharging five packages or one package containing live pieces of confection through the opening A4. The moment pressure is relieved from the knob L the spring M will force the said knob outwardly, dropping the coin into the coinchamber A7, there being a limited amount of play, so that when the package hasrprojeoted through the opening a certain amount of pressure will be relieved from the coin, thus permitting it to drop by its own weight, and at the same time the lever I and plunger H will be returned to their normal positions, as indicated in Fig. 3. These operations are continued until the last package has been discharged. The end E2 of the guide-pin E will engage the opening HS and securely lock the plunger in a forward position, at which time the plate K will close the coin-chute, and

thereby prevent another coin being intro- Y duced into the machine. It will thus be seen that I provide a simple and eiicient machine by means of which articles can be delivered by depositing a coin and operating the machine, and it will also be noted that the machine becomes automatically locked and closed as soon as the supply of articles becomes exhausted.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a vending-machine the combination with a case, of a casting-plate arranged therein, said casting-plate having side anges, a plunger working between the flanges and across the top of the casting-plate, said plunger having integral webs or flanges, one of which is provided with a lateral extension, and another slotted vertically, arock-shaftto which the plunger is connected, an operatinglever having a laterally-projecting pin adapted to engage the slotted flange of the plunger, the-coin-chute, operating-rod and spring for returning the several parts to their normal positions, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a vending-machine the combination with a case, of a casting-plate arranged therein Adividing the case into front and rear compartments, the spring-actuated follower arranged in the forward compartment and adapted to support a plurality of packages, a plunger consisting of a plate provided with a number of rearwardly-extending flanges, one of which is formed with a lateral extension,- the other slotted vertically and another connected by means of an arm to a rock-shaft, the operating -lever having a laterally-proj ecting lower end attached to the said castingplate, said casting-plate having iianges at each side, one of the ilanges being cut away IOC adapted to support a plurality of packages, a plunger consisting of a plate having a perforation therein and provided'with a number of rearwardly-extendinganges, one of which is formed with a lateral extension, the other slotted vertically and another connected by means of an arm to a rock-shaft, the operating-lever having a laterally-projecting lower end, said lever being connectedto the aforesaid casting-plate, said casting-plate having flanges at each side, one of the langes being cut away at its rear side to receive the laterally-projecting lower end of the lever, the push-rod and plate, the spring for bearing upon said push-rod and plate, and the guideplate for guiding the inner end of the pushrod plate, and a guide-pin carried by the follower, the upper end projecting above the follower and adapted to engage the perforation in the plunger when the supply of confections becomes exhausted, substantially as described.

PHINEAS G. MAOLEAN. Witnesses:

JAMES V. BEAM, J. S. SALMON. 

